Incidence of cancer in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, 1998-2001

We describe the patterns of cancer incidence for common cancers in Gulf Cooperation Council countries during 1998-2001. A total of 32 291 cases of cancer were diagnosed [16 342 in males; 15 949 in females]. Male preponderance was observed only in Saudi Arabia and Oman. The age-standardized incidence of all malignancies per 100 000 in both sexes was highest in Qatar followed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia. Paediatric cancer ranged from 9.5% of total cancers in Saudi Arabia and UAE to 4.0% in Bahrain. In all countries, the mean age at diagnosis was higher in males than females; cancer of the lung and prostate were commonest among males, and cancer of breast and thyroid among females. Lung cancer ranked second among Bahraini women

Association of reproductive factors with the incidence of breast cancer in Gulf Cooperation Council countries

This article presents the incidence of female breast cancer in the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] countries and reviews the data in relation to established reproductive factors. Overall 4480 female breast cancer cases were diagnosed during 1998-2002 among GCC country nationals. Breast cancer was the most common malignancy in all GCC countries, ranging from 16.1% of female cancers in Oman to 35.4% in Bahrain. The age-standardized incidence rate per 100 000 was highest in Bahrain [46.4], followed by Kuwait [44.3], Qatar [35.5], United Arab Emirates [19.2], Oman [14.4] and Saudi Arabia [12.9]. These rates are low compared with most industrialized countries